Pinterest Baking 101

Okay, it really wasn't baking...

These last few months while I've been busy with my Grandpeeps,

I haven't had a lot of time to do many of the things I usually
do with my down time, but sometimes, after the kiddos went to bed,
I'd spend a few minutes or so, on Pinterest...

I've honestly all but stopped buying magazines, with this 

neverending parade of inspiration, right at my fingertips...

Lulu and I've made a couple of craft projects, that I found

for her on Pinterest, I'll share those later.

* 

This will probably shock most of you!!! 

The one thing that I had a huge somewhat of a problem with...

What in the world was I going to fix for dinner???

The funny thing is, the baby, (after he was on solid foods) ate just about

everything. Lulu being the ripe age of 5 (going on 15)...
is sooo picky, and that can really take the joy
out of cooking real fast! I'll post a couple recipe's (later) that I found
on Pinterest, that she really liked...
But today, I'm going to share what I made for our family's
4th. of July gathering!

photo credit: from Gina's skinny recipes

I used what I had on hand, so I strayed from the original recipe, next time,

I'm going to stay with her original recipe! It's way healthier!!!

Ingredients:

• 10 oz angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes* (I used Sara Lee Pound Cake)
• 2 pints strawberries, sliced
• 2 pints blueberries

For the cream filling:

• 6 tbsp fat-free sweetened condensed milk (I used the whole can)
• 1 1/2 cups cold water (I used milk instead)
• 1 package sugar-free white chocolate instant pudding mix(I used
• vanilla pudding mix) 
• 12 oz fat-free (or not) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

Whisk the condensed milk and water(milk) in a bowl.
Whisk in the pudding mix for 2 minutes.

Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; fold in the whipped topping.

I cut the Sara Lee cake lengthwise, and used two different
sized star cookie cutters to cut some of the cake into stars.
I arranged those on the outside of the cake chunks layer,
(where you'd see them on the outside of the bowl.

Arrange half of the cake in the bottom of a 14-cup trifle dish.
Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Spread half of the
cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread
(I piped it using a plastic bag and cut the corner off).
Top with a layer of strawberries. Layer the remaining cake
cubes on top of the strawberries, then add more blueberries,
and top with the remaining cream mixture.
Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries,
arranging them in a pretty pattern.
Cover and refrigerate at least one 1 hour.

Also, I didn't pipe the cream mixture on...

I spread it on evenly, and for the top, I used three cake stars,
 and arranged the berries around them covering the top.
And can you believe it, not one picture...

It was beautiful, and got lots of compliments!

*Gina only used 10 oz of a 16 oz cake.

This trifle if used per Gina's

recipe, is Weight Watcher friendly. (Gina if you read this,

please forgive me for changing it, I promise I'll do it your way

the next time)!

Please check out Gina's awesome blog, it's full

of wonderful healthy recipes

Thanks again for visiting, please leave a message,

I'd looove hearing from YOU!!!

Always, Debbie~

My Heartstrings Have Been Pulled

WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK

(remember 'Welcome Back Kotter',

that tune is playing in my head right now as I write this)!

This was the longest coffee break I've ever taken! 

I'm so excited to see so many of you are still following me,
that makes me so happy!
 Honestly, I'm beaming from ear to ear!

I'm not sure where to begin, but maybe by telling my story,
I may help one person out there to cope with what
may be going on in there own life...

You all know I adore Cottage Living,

from the hunt, re purposing, to decorating my humble
little cottage!

My blog shows different parts of my

everyday life, and sometimes I show little snippets

of

my family,

 and really blogger friends, isn't that truly what we're all about,
our families???

Yes, I agree.

I enjoy being inspired by all of you, (and Pinterest of course). 

I live a simple life really, and puttering about my humble cottage
makes me smile, and in turn, I've made my home a warm,
hopefully inviting place for all of my family,

(and friends) to enjoy...

Especially our wee itty bitty little Granpeeps, that have come into

our lives these last few years.

Anyway...

Just before I went on my looong coffee break, things in general didn't seem

quite right...Nope, not at all.

I'd starting getting calls from my son, to watch our Grandpeeps,

more than the regular, we'd like to go out, would ya like

to enjoy your Grand babies for the evening...

Much more, than that...

It started out a couple of days,

into a few days, and the reason they gave us,

just wasn't really making sense...My internal red flag was

flying high by this time, and I had a sick feeling

in the pit of my stomach, and lots and lots of sleepless nights,

Until they finally asked us if we could take the kiddos

because they needed help...

It was drugs,

this Monster had them both,

before they knew it...

So of course I asked God for help,

My Prayer, went something like this...

Dear God, please please let them live...

Please give them the strength to fight

this monster...

*

Please Dear God, these children need

their parents...

*

Please hold them in your hand, and

watch over them, and help them

fight this, and find their way back...

*
AMEN 

Scared, sleepless nights, Love,

Deep feeling of loss, tears, patience,

anger,

Hopelessness, 

Hope

prayers, tears

Love

(these were some of the feelings I felt)

Now Fast Forward 10 months!

...and I'm happy to say, we're Nana & Grandpa again!!!

Not that we weren't, but you get what I mean.

I'm not going to go into all the heartbreaking,
scary, and sad details, but, I am

going to tell you, that they're home now, 

with both Mom & Dad.

My son & his wife have been to what I imagine hell to be like,

and now they're back, after hours, days, and months of rehab.

They're busy with their out-patient rehab, counseling & meetings,

and being Mommy & Daddy!

I'm so proud of them, my wish for them is to

live one day at a time, give lots of hugs,

laugh a lot, express & feel the love...

and cherish each little moment
with their sweet family!!!

They're addicts, and always will be, I hope to God,

they never walk down this road again, for all of our sakes...

especially the kids.

I'm still having a hard time sleeping, I have

a lot on my mind...I may never get over the worry,

and I still lay and listen for my little Grandson, that

will go away with time...

But for now, I plan on doing some Spring cleaning,

dinging out, recovering a chair I got months ago, and

enjoy some of this sun that we've been getting here lately!

Always, Debbie~